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Leeds

Rooftop padel courts planned for multi-storey car park in Leeds city centre

The ball is in our court.

Clementine Hall - 18th May 2026

Padel courts could be built on top of a car park in Leeds if plans are agreed.

Padel has been taking the world by storm recently, and it seems like there's no stopping it just yet.

Developers behind the Merrion Centre in Leeds have submitted plans to build eight rooftop padel courts at the shopping centre.

If successful, the development would result in the loss of 128 spaces at the car park which currently has space for 960 vehicles.

The plans outline that the courts would be built on the eighth floor of the building and that the scheme would support the fast growing popularity of the sport in the city.

The development would include seven indoor courts that would be housed in a detached aluminium-framed structure at the car park site that was built in the 1960s.

The report said: "Padel is widely recognised as a fast-growing racket sport, combining elements of tennis and squash in a format that is social, inclusive and relatively easy to learn.

"Its increasing popularity across the UK has led to a notable rise in demand for accessible courts, particularly in large urban areas."

It continued: “The application site forms part of the existing Merrion Centre car park, currently operated by CitiPark. The building comprises eight levels in total, with this proposal limited to the uppermost level.”

Leeds City Council is currently considering a full planning application which is out for consultation until Wednesday 3 June.

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Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

Leeds

The Yorkshire designer who’s put together the official FIFA World Cup scarf collection

Danny Jones Official FIFA World Cup scarf collection 2026

Official FIFA World Cup scarf collection 2026

A Yorkshire-born and bred artist and his creative team have earned the huge honour of creating the official FIFA scarf collection for this year's World Cup.

Nothing short of massive for anyone from our part of the world.

The local legend in question is Tom Pitts, who was born in Sheffield and is now based just beyond Leeds, leading the campaign right from the helm.

Hand Drawn Pixels is a graphic design and digital studio based in Otley, and while you'll see plenty of folks wearing football shirts and even the odd scarf on the town's famous pub crawl, these lot are venturing on an entirely different kind of run this summer.

Credit: Hand Drawn Pixels (supplied)

Credit: Hand Drawn Pixels (supplied)

In fact, the work has very much already started, with Tom and co. collaborating directly with FIFA and US manufacturers, Global Scarves, to create the World Cup collection.

With this year's tournament obviously taking place across America, Mexico and Canada, they've joined up with a big LLC, but they describe themselves as "a true English custom scarf company with American parents."

In their words, "We knit scarves for clients all over the world", with a presence both near Leeds and over in Seattle, Washington.

The fixtures themselves kick off next month (England's first game coming against Croatia on 17 June), and so Hand Drawn Pixels have been hard at work meeting the briefs for each of the nations taking part.

Here's a quick breakdown of how the opportunity came about, their vision for the project, and how everything starts for them as a whole process.

You can see more of their work HERE, but as the brand name would suggest, it's pretty simple to begin with: nothing more than a pencil.

It's worth noting that the 2026 World Cup also featured the largest number of teams in the competition's history: 48 qualified national squads, to be exact. So, technically, they've had even more designing to do than they theoretically would have in any of the previous years, too.

Tom confessed that winning this bid is obviously a big deal on its own and that seeing his creations being worn in person by supporters at the stadiums will be a "surreal" experience.

Speaking exclusively with The Hoot, he said: "It’s been an amazing creative challenge for us to truly reflect the individuality and diversity of the nations competing in this prestigious tournament on such an iconic product as the football scarf."

He went on to add that "the whole project has been a huge learning experience, gaining deeper cultural insight into every nation involved."

More than 4.5 million fans have already entered the ballot for match tickets, and there have already been warnings issued over potential scam seats for World Cup '26.

We can't wait to cast eyes upon a sea of colour and finely crafted fabric in unique but somehow universally familiar patterns, all designed right here in 'God's Own Country'.

world cup scarves 2026 — Credit: Supplied

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Featured Images — Hand Drawn Pixels (supplied)

Leeds

Award-winning Sardinian restaurant Domo announces Leeds opening date

Clementine Hall

Domo will officially open the doors to its Leeds venue this summer.

Get ready for Domo Leeds, a Sardinian independent born in Sheffield that is loved by many for its delicious food, inviting atmosphere and stellar service.

Run by Raffaele Busceddu and Sarah May Elliott, Domo serves a range of traditional Sardinian specialities from homemade pasta dishes to show-stopping grills.

They've also got a banging cocktail menu full of signature serves and refreshing spritz, perfect for enjoying with friends over some delicious sharing plates.

Images: The Sheff

Images: The Sheff

Domo has confirmed it will officially open the doors to its first Leeds venue on Friday June 5, so we really don't have long to wait.

Located at the iconic Tower Works development, Domo Leeds will offer a vibrant new canal-side destination, perfect for the summer months.

Alongside the main restaurant menu, there’ll be a dedicated bar food menu designed around relaxed dining and carefully crafted small plates designed to pair with the drinks offering creating a more informal way for guests to experience Sardinian flavours.

Domo co-founder, Sarah Elliott-Busceddu, said: “We’re incredibly excited to finally open the doors and welcome people into Domo Leeds. From day one, our vision has been to create a space where everyone feels welcome and somewhere that brings people together in the true spirit of Sardinian hospitality.

“Whether it’s an evening out with friends, a relaxed catch-up over drinks after work, or a big family celebration, we’ve designed Domo to feel warm, inclusive and full of life. We can’t wait for people in Leeds to experience not just the food and drinks, but the atmosphere and sense of community that sits at the heart of everything we do.”

You can book your table here.

Read more: A brand-new bakery from the masterminds behind Silver’s Deli is opening in Leeds next week

Featured image - The Sheff